The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-19
In CENTRAL SOUDAN.

spears levelled or swords uplifted
bear down upon US like a whirlwind
amid clouds of dust, apparently bent
| on annihilating or sending to Gahenns
such infidels as ourselves. But even
| though you feel "a decided want OF
backbone, dozen spears, as it were,
| already quivering in your bodies, and
your heads not worth the purchase,
pray do not run away, nor even blench
| for one moment. Assume an indiffer-
| ent expression, as if being chopped up
or spitted ON spears was daily exper-
fence. If you can smile in the emer-
gency, all the better, for just as we
seem to feel the hot breath of their
horses on our cheeks, and in a be-
wildered sort of way realize the disa-
greeable proximity of several spears,
another shout will fill the air, the gal
Looping horses as if by magic will stand
stock-still, enveloping US in a cloud OF
dust, and by the cordial shouts of well
come and hearty salams we shall find
most pleasant assurance that all this
fiendish display is intended as an hon.
orable welcome to their town. Barely
shall we have realized that this is the
way they do these things in central
Soudan, and that instead of being
among foes we are among friends,
when the horsemen are off again, SEEM
ingly bent once more on annihilating
an unseen enemy.
Let Us wait a minute, and from be-
hind the gateway we shall hear the
notes of native music, not such as
would delight us at home, but vet har-
monizing with our surroundings, and
not without q certain wild, weird
charm of its own. Some of YOU NAV
have heard similar shrill melancholy
strains IN the streets of Cairo in festi-
val professions, or still more appro-
priately in Arab camps. Presently,
however, the music will cease to mo-
nopolize your attention, as the musi-
clans themselves advance with their
huge trumpets six feet long, their pipes
and hour-glass-shaped tomtoms, her
aiding the approach of a Fillani noble
man. Following at no great distance
comes the respected magnate volumi-
nously clothed, and mounted on a
pranclng flery-eyed horse, one mass of
rich trappings, which jingle and rustic
at its every STEP This is the messen-
ger sent to bid us welcome by the Sui
tan-a task which he win perform
with that dignified bearing and inborn
grace which seem somehow specially
characteristic of Mohammedan races.
This ceremony over, the horsemen will
once more engage in mimic battle,
showing their modes of fighting, and
the skill with which they WELD their
weapons and manage their horses.
Thus escorted, we shall be expected to
fall into procession, and headed by
court singer, who improvises a chant
In our honor, which is accompanied by
the pipes, and accentuated by the stem
torian notes of the trumpets and the
notes of the tomtoms. we
shall be conducted through wondering
but respectful crowds to the quarters
specially provided for us in the town.
Let us imagine that this quaint and
interesting ceremony is over, and that
we are safely housed, that we have lis
tened to second messenger from the
Sultan, and looked over the abundance
of good things sent for our immediate
and finally have been
left alone to refresh ourselves and rest
after the excessive fatigues of our
Journey.
Toward the cool of the evening we
can afford to wander forth once more,
and seek new sights and scenes to graf
ify our lively curiosity. We must be
prepared to be followed by crowds of
the lower classes, more eager to see
us than even we can be to see them.
But observe how respectful they are,
and how little of barbarous vulgarity
they have in their examination of us,
as compared with the pagan tribes we
have hitherto passed through on our
journey.
Leaving for another occasion the
of the inside of their
penetralia-le us wan
der through the town. Long dead
walls of glaring red clay suggesting
prisons are varied by the occurrence
here and there of square tower-like
building having an ordinary doorway
to the street. From the roofs of these
towers project long clay pipes to drain
off the water from the flat roofs Some
times, instead of fat-roofed building,
a conical-roofed erection takes its
place, and In place of the ordinary
European-like doorway characteristic
OF all the square buildings horseshoe
shaped entrance performs the same
duty. Mats or fences of sorghum
stalks replace not infrequently the
mud walls which enclose the
compounds of the wealthy. These are
all the architectural features which
meet the inquiring gaze of the trav-
eler.
Having thus little to note in the
house, we must turn to other objects
for points of interest. And truly there
Is no lack. In shady hooks sit pict-
uresque groups of natives in all kinds
of combinations discussing the news of
the day, haggling over a purchase, or
busily engaged in embroidery or max
ing up of gowns and trousers. This
trade, we may note, is here entirely in
the hands of men, who ply the needle
with much skill. Farther on we meet
a courtier gorgeously dressed, looking
in his voluminous garments very
Falstaff in bulk. as he goes ambling
past on his still more richly decorated
horse, bent on a little exercise in the
cool of the evening. OF the personal
of this aristocrat / shall
not now speak, but we may take no.
tice of the horse. By good luck here
happens to be one standing waiting to
be mounted, so we can more conyen-
iently examine steed and trappings in
detail. The animal befors us is very
fair specimen of a Soudanese horse.
1t is somewhat lanky with little beau
ty of line, but it is tiery-eyed, and its
tail and name, being uncut, give it
somewhat wild appearance. Soudan-
naa tlx, tnsD
and difficult to manage, stations alone
being used for riding purposes. They
are specially trained for sudden for
ward charges, to stop within their own
length when in full gallop, to turn
with equal rapidity, and away like the
wind out of harms way. At other
times the favorite mode of progression
is by making the horses left legs SIM
ultaneously alternate with those of the
right side, method of travelling which
is very pleasant and easy. The riders
are fond of making their horses prance
and plunge about with fierce and fiery
action. There is nothing which the
central Soudanese is so proud of as
his horse, and nothing to which he de-
votes more time and attention than its
appearance and trappings- The head
gear is almost one mass of brass-plated
ornaments, little bells, and thousand
tassels and flaps of leather In yellow,
light blue. or dark red. The beauti-
fully plated reins would almost hold
an elephant for strength. while the
bits are perfect instruments of torture.
Joseph Thomson ia Hdrper's Maga-
ss1se.
Twas . Little Hard for Him.
There is q gentleman in Minneapolis
who Is something of practical joker.
His friends think he devotes three